Method and apparatus for formulating inks

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for formulating an ink capable of reproducing a desired color having an unknown ink formulation. The apparatus includes a viewing area adapted to receive a color sample having a known ink formulation as well as a sample of the color having an unknown ink formulation. A number of filters are mounted above the viewing area such that any number or combination of the filters may be selectively positioned to overlie the known color sample until the unknown color is approximately duplicated by the known color sample and superimposed filters. The color of each filter is reproducible by a known ink formulation, and thus an ink capable of reproducing the unknown color may be prepared by mixing an appropriate amount of the inks indicated by the selected filters with the ink of the known sample.

United States Patent [1 1 Gober, Jr.

[ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMULATING INKS [75] Inventor: William C. Gober, Jr., Doraville, Ga.

[73] Assignee: Wikoff Color Corporation,

Charlotte, N.C.

[22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 76,457

[52] US. Cl. 356/189, 356/195, 35/28.3,

' -35/28.5 [51] Int. Cl G01j 3/48, GOlj 3/52 [58] Field ofSearch ..356/l75-l79, 184, 186,l88,189,l95,l9l,192,l94; 35/28.3, 28.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,391,286 9/1921 Vautrain 35/28.3 1,958,192 5/1934 Fletcher 35/28.5 X 2,899,755 8/1959 Terilli 35/28.3 3,519,360 7/1970 Kudlek (Nording) ..356/ l 95 3,628,871 12/1971 l-limmelstrup 356/189 3,365,816 1/1968 Singer-man 35/28.3 1,496,374 6/1924 Jones 356/189 2,969,016 l/l96l Crosfield et al. 356/188 X 3,467,475 9/1969 Celio et a1. 356/188 X 2,438,303 3/1948 Simmon 355/36 2,597,658 5/1952 Mattucci.. 356/175 X 2,934,172 4/1960 Christie 356/176 X [111 3,738,758 June 12, 1973 Primary ExaminerRonald L. Wibert Assistant Examiner-R. J. Webster Attorney-Patron, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for formulating an ink capable of reproducing a desired color having an unknown ink formulation. The apparatus includes a viewing area adapted to receive a color sample having a known ink formu ation as well as a sample of the color having an unknown ink formulation. A number of filters are mounted above the viewing area such that any number or combination of the filters may be selectively positioned to overlie the known color sample until the unknown color is approximately duplicated by the known color sample and superimposed filters. The color of eachfilter is reproducible by a known ink formulation, and thus an ink capable of reproducing the unknown color may be prepared by mixing an appropriate amount of the inks indicated by the selected filters with the ink of the known sample.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAn-tmcuwm 3.738.758

' SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR: LUAM C.GOBER,IR.

ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMULATING INKS The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reproducing a color sample having an unknown ink formulation. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for instructing an ink manufacturer or color matcher in the formulation of an ink capable of reproducing a desired unknown color.

In the printing industry, it is common for a user of inks, such as a lithographic printer, to submit a sample of an unknown color (i.e., a color having an unknown ink formulation) which he desires to reproduce to an ink manufacturer or supplier. In order to formulate an ink capable of reproducing the unknown color, the manufacturer normally employs a highly skilled technician or color matcher who mixes the basic inks of the manufacturer by a trial and error process until the desired color is closely approximated. More particularly, the technician takes a sample of the basic ink nearest the desired color, adds one or more other inks having colors which he hopes will properly blend with the basic ink to produce the unknown color, produces a color proof utilizing the mixed inks, and then compares the proof with the desired color. This procedure is normally repeated several times before the unknown color is satisfactorily duplicated andis a time consuming, la-

I borious, and therefore expensive operation.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for facilitating the formulation of an ink capable of reproducing a desired unknown color.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a quick, accurate, and foolproof method of mixing inks to produce a desired color, and which may be carried out by relatively unskilled personnel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the described type which is inexpensive, portable, and capable of being standardized with other similar units. In this regard, units may be placed at various locations where the ink formulations may be determined and then forwarded to the manufacturer or ink supplier at a single central location.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein by the provision of an apparatus which comprises a viewing area having a first portion adapted to receive a sample of the unknown color and a second portion-adapted to receive a sample of a known color (i.e., a color having a known ink formulation). A plurality of transparent filters of differing-colors are mounted above the viewing area such that any number or combination of the filters may be selectively positioned to overlie the second portion of the viewing surface. A base ink is provided which is adapted to reproduce the color of the known color sample, and a toner ink is provided which is adapted to reproduce the color of each of thefilters. By selectively positioning one or more filters above the known color sample until the color of the unknown sample is approximately duplicated when the known color sample is viewed through the selected filters, and by mixing the base and toner inks indicated by the known color sample and the selected filters respectively, an ink capable of reproducing the unknown color may be formulated.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly sectioned, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the means for pivotally mounting the filters;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the arrangement of the filters and supporting arms.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 and comprises a box-like structure having a base wall 12, side walls 14 and 16, a top wall 18, and a rear wall 20. A viewing surface 22 is interposed between the base and top wall and is accessible through the open front of the apparatus. The top wall 18 includes a centrally located circular aperture 24, and the upper surface thereof carries a filter housing 25 comprising a generally oval edge 26 and a conforming oval cover 27. The cover includes an aperture 28 aligned with the top wall aperture 24, and an eyepiece 29 extends upwardly from the upper surface of the cover 27 in alignment with the apertures 24 and 28 such that the vision of an observer is directed onto a central viewing area 30 of the surface 22. A light 31 is mounted within the apparatus adjacent the intersection of the rear wall 20 and top wall 18 such that an incident beam of light may be directed onto the viewing area 30 and reflected upwardly through the eyepiece to an observer.

In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 25 mounts a total of twenty four independently pivotable arms which are divided into six groups (designated by numerals 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37) of four arms each (individually designated by subscripts a, b, c, d). The groups 32-34 are pivotable about the pin 40 and the groups 35-37 are pivotable about the pin 42. The inner end of each arm carries a filter, with the four filters (individually designated by subscripts A, B, C, D) of each group having or being of different intensities of the same color, and the filters of each group being of a color different from the filters in the other groups. For example, the arms 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d could carry filters 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D which are of decreasing intensity of the color red, and the four filters 33A, 33B,

33C and 33D'of group 33 may comprise decreasing intensities of the color green. As will be further explained below, the color of each filter is by design reproducible by a known ink.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each arm includes an outer end extending outwardly through one of two openings 43 in the edge 26 of the housing to constitute a manually grippable flap for individually rotating one or more arms about the associated pivot. Each arm is pivotable between a first position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3) wherein the filter overlies the lower half of the viewing area 30 and a second position (shown in solid lines) wherein the filter does not overlie the viewing area. A pair stop members 44 and 45 are provided for each of the two sets of groups to limit the rotation of the arms. In addition, an oval-shaped spacer ring 46 is positioned above and below each arm as seen in FIG. 4 to preclude interlocking of the arms during rotation.

To use the described apparatus, a sample 50 of an unknown color is placed in the upper half of the viewing area 30 and a sample 52 of a known color is positioned on the lower half of the viewing area 30 in juxtaposition with the unknown sample. Next the technician, while viewing the area 30 through the eyepiece 29, selectively positions any number or combination of the filters over the lower half of the viewing area and thus the known sample, until the color of the unknown sample is approximately duplicated. Since the color of the filters carried by the arms are each reproducible by a known ink, the inks indicated by the known color sample and selected filters may be mixed to produce an ink capable of reproducing the unknown color.

As will be apparent from FIG. 2, the incident light directed onto the viewing area 30 from the light 31 and through the open front of the apparatus does not pass through the filters, and the light reflected from the viewing area passes upwardly through the selected filters to the observer.

By way of specific example, the procedure for formulating a lithographic ink capable of reproducing a desired unknown color and utilizing the present invention is described below. As is well known, lithographic inks typically comprise approximately 4070 percent coloring pigments, with the remainder comprising the vehicle (i.e., varnish, dryers, etc. suitably formulated for lithographic printing). Initially, a number of base color samples reproducible by known ink formulations were selected. The exact number and color of these samples could vary, and are generally determined by experience. The samples may but do not necessarily represent the primary colors. For the present example, six base color samples were selected as follows:

Base Color Sample Inks Pigment Vehicle 1. Benzine Yellow 55.25 44.75 2. Warm Red 67.40 32.60 3. Magenta 41.85 58.15 4. Rubine Red 63.65 36.35 5. Reflex Blue 59.85 40.15 6. Purple 58.85 41.15

Next, six toner inks were selected for the six groups The six above toner inks were by design adapted to reproduce the color and intensity of the four filters of each color when mixed or thinned with a known amount of additional uncolored vehicle. This being known, the appropriate amount of the toner ink necessary to tint the base ink to the extent represented by the associated filter was determined for each combination of base color sample and filter. In this regard, the following table was prepared indicating the parts (by weight) of toner ink to be added to 100 parts of the base ink to effectively tint the base ink to the extent indicated by the various filters:

Formulations (Parts Toner Ink per 100 Parts Base Ink) Filter A Filter B Filter C Filter D 1. Red

(Group 32 0.010 0.005- 0.0025 .0012 Green (Group 33 0.006 0.003 0.0015 .0007 3. Blue (Grou 34 0.005 0.003 0.0015 .0007 4. Yellow (Group 3s 0.008 0.004 0.0020 .0010

4 5. Magenta (Group 36) 0.008 0.004 0.0020 .0010 6. Cyan (Group 37) r 0.002 0.001 0.0006 .0003

In the specific test run, a sheet of paper having a portion printed in a somewhat mustard yellow color was selected at random for matching. The sample was placed in the upper half of the viewing area 30 and a base sample of benzine yellow printed on similar paper was positioned immediately adjacent thereto in the lower half of the viewing area. After a certain amount of trial and error, it was determined that the color of the desired sample was closely duplicated when magenta filters A and D were positioned over the base color. Utilizing the above formulation table, 0.009 parts of magenta toner ink were added to parts of base benzine yellow ink. After a thorough mixing, a proof was prepared utilizing the resulting ink. The proof was found to very closely duplicate the original mustard yellow color.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for facilitating the formulation of an ink capable of closely duplicating a color having an unknown ink formulation comprising a viewing area for receiving in a juxtaposed relation a sample of the color of unknown ink formulation and a sample of a color of known ink formulation of generally the same color type as the color of unknown ink formulation for simultaneous viewing by an operator,

a plurality of transparent filters of differing colors corresponding to colors reproducible by known ink formulations, and

means for mounting said filters so as to have selective and independent movement relative to the viewing area to permit viewing of the sample of color of known ink formulation through one or more of the filters and with said filters positioned in spaced relation above said viewing area such that light may be directed onto said viewing area without passing through said filters and the light reflected from said viewing area passes through the selected filters to the operator, whereby a combination of the sample of color of known ink formulation and one or more of the filters may be chosen to closely approximate the color of the sample of unknown ink formulation and the known ink formulations of the selected filters and the known color sample may be mixed to achieve an ink formulation substantially the same as the unknown formulation.

2. An apparatus for duplicating a color of unknown ink formulation to assist in the reproduction thereof comprising a viewing area having a first portion for receiving a color sample of unknown ink formulation and a second portion for receiving a color sample of known ink formulation,

eyepiece means for focusing the vision of an observer onto said viewing area,

a plurality of transparent filters of differing colors, the color of each of said filters being reproducible by a known ink formulation,

means for mounting said'filters in spaced relation above said viewing area and between said viewing 4 area and eyepiece means such that any number of combination thereof may be selectively positioned to overlie said second portion of said viewing area when viewed through said eyepiece means, and means for directing a beam of light onto said viewing area such that an incident light beam is directed onto said viewing area without passing through said filters and a reflected light beam passes through the selected filters and eyepiece means to the observer.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for mounting said filters comprises a plurality of independently pivotable arms, each of said arms carrying a filter and being independently pivotable between a first position wherein said filter overlies said second viewing portion and a second position wherein said filter does not overlie said viewing area.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising stop members for limiting the pivotable movement of said arms between said first and second positions.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein a number of said arms are pivotable about a common first axis and the remaining arms are pivotable about a common second axis.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid plurality of filters comprises a number of filters of differing intensities of each color.

7. An apparatus for facilitating the formulation of an ink capable of closely reproducing a desired unknown color comprising a plurality of samples of differing known colors,

a base ink for reproducing the color of eachof said color samples,

a plurality of transparent filters of differing colors,

a toner ink for reproducing the color of each of said color filters,

a viewing area including a first portion for mounting a sample of the desired unknown color and a second portion for mounting a selected one of said known color samples, and

means for mounting each of the filters in spaced relation above said viewing area such that light may be directed onto said viewing area without passing through said filters and the light reflected from said viewing area passes through the selected filters and wherein any number or combination of said filters may be selectively positioned to overlie said second viewing area portion to thereby permit the desired unknown color to be approximately reproduced by the known color sample and the superimposed filters, whereby an ink capable of closely reproducing the desired unknown color may be formulated by combining the base ink adapted to reproduce the selected known sample and the toner inks adapted to reproduce the selected color filters.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 further including eyepiece means mounted above said filters for focusing the vision of an observer onto said viewing area.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including light means for directing a beam of light onto said viewing area such that the light is reflected from the viewing area and passes through the selected filters and eyepiece means to the observer.

10. A process for formulating an ink capable of reproducing a sample of an unknown color comprising the steps of,

placing a sample of the unknown color and a sample of known color which is reproducible by a known ink in juxtaposition,

selectively positioning one or more filters of differing colors which are each reproducible by a known ink in space relation above the known color sample until the color of the unknown sample is approximately duplicated when the known color sample is viewed through the selected filters, and while directing a beam of light onto the sample of known color and sample of unknown color without passing through said filters and such that the light is reflected from the known color sample through the selected filters and to the observer, and

mixing the known inks indicated by the known color sample and the selected filters. 1 

1. An apparatus for facilitating the formulation of an ink capable of closely duplicating a color having an unknown ink formulation comprising a viewing area for receiving in a juxtaposed relation a sample of the color of unknown ink formulation and a sample of a color of known ink formulation of generally the same color type as the color of unknown ink formulation for simultaneous viewing by an operator, a plurality of transparent filters of differing colors corresponding to colors reproducible by known ink formulations, and means for mounting said filters so as to have selective and independent movement relative to the viewing area to permit viewing of the sample of color of known ink formulation through one or more of the filters and with said filters positioned in spaced relation above said viewing area such that light may be directed onto said viewing area without passing through said filters and the light reflected from said viewing area passes through the selected filters to the operator, whereby a combination of the sample of color of known ink formulation and one or more of the filters may be chosen to closely approximate the color of the sample of unknown ink formulation and the known ink formulations of the selected filters and the known color sample may be mixed to achieve an ink formulation substantially the same as the unknown formulation.
 2. An apparatus for duplicating a color of unknown ink formulation to assist in the reproduction thereof comprising a viewing area having a first portion for receiving a color sample of unknown ink formulation and a second portion for receiving a color sample of known ink formulation, eyepiece means for focusing the vision of an observer onto said viewing area, a plurality of transparent filters of differing colors, the color of each of said filters being reproducible by a known ink formulation, means for mounting said filters in spaced relation above said viewing area and between said viewing area and eyepiece means such that any number of combination thereof may be selectively positioned to overlie said second portion of said viewing area whEn viewed through said eyepiece means, and means for directing a beam of light onto said viewing area such that an incident light beam is directed onto said viewing area without passing through said filters and a reflected light beam passes through the selected filters and eyepiece means to the observer.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for mounting said filters comprises a plurality of independently pivotable arms, each of said arms carrying a filter and being independently pivotable between a first position wherein said filter overlies said second viewing portion and a second position wherein said filter does not overlie said viewing area.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising stop members for limiting the pivotable movement of said arms between said first and second positions.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein a number of said arms are pivotable about a common first axis and the remaining arms are pivotable about a common second axis.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said plurality of filters comprises a number of filters of differing intensities of each color.
 7. An apparatus for facilitating the formulation of an ink capable of closely reproducing a desired unknown color comprising a plurality of samples of differing known colors, a base ink for reproducing the color of each of said color samples, a plurality of transparent filters of differing colors, a toner ink for reproducing the color of each of said color filters, a viewing area including a first portion for mounting a sample of the desired unknown color and a second portion for mounting a selected one of said known color samples, and means for mounting each of the filters in spaced relation above said viewing area such that light may be directed onto said viewing area without passing through said filters and the light reflected from said viewing area passes through the selected filters and wherein any number or combination of said filters may be selectively positioned to overlie said second viewing area portion to thereby permit the desired unknown color to be approximately reproduced by the known color sample and the superimposed filters, whereby an ink capable of closely reproducing the desired unknown color may be formulated by combining the base ink adapted to reproduce the selected known sample and the toner inks adapted to reproduce the selected color filters.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 further including eyepiece means mounted above said filters for focusing the vision of an observer onto said viewing area.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including light means for directing a beam of light onto said viewing area such that the light is reflected from the viewing area and passes through the selected filters and eyepiece means to the observer.
 10. A process for formulating an ink capable of reproducing a sample of an unknown color comprising the steps of, placing a sample of the unknown color and a sample of known color which is reproducible by a known ink in juxtaposition, selectively positioning one or more filters of differing colors which are each reproducible by a known ink in space relation above the known color sample until the color of the unknown sample is approximately duplicated when the known color sample is viewed through the selected filters, and while directing a beam of light onto the sample of known color and sample of unknown color without passing through said filters and such that the light is reflected from the known color sample through the selected filters and to the observer, and mixing the known inks indicated by the known color sample and the selected filters. 